Specific players and jersey numbers can be added to your sports analytics software, customizing the input area for quick play tagging.
A tactical camera serves a distinct role in sports analysis, differing fundamentally from broadcast cameras. While broadcast cameras follow the action closely, focusing on the ball and key players for viewer engagement, tactical cameras provide a zoomed-out, comprehensive view of the field. In soccer, for instance, a tactical camera or “main camera” captures the middle 20 players, enabling coaches to analyze team formations, defensive alignments and offensive strategies.
Oftentimes, broadcasters will collaborate with sports analytics teams and they will provide the “Main” camera feed over the network to the sports analytics software. IP video has enabled many new video workflows that allow software solutions like sideline instant replay tablets and sports analytics software to easily access video feeds over WiFi or ethernet connections to the network. The “Main” camera is essentially the camera view that follows the middle 2/3rds of the field which isn’t used for close ups. It’s very likely that the cameras used for the sports live streaming can be used for sports analytics too. You can decide to connect with these video feeds in real-time or access the recordings after the game. Working with the video production team to understand your sports analytics goals can help the team better understand the dual-purpose use of video.
Using the broadcast “main” camera feed as a baseline for sports analytics provides immediate, structured reference points that are already verified by officials and integrated into the flow of the game. This feed typically includes the official scoreboard, timeouts, penalty flags and other essential data markers that define the narrative of the match. By utilizing an SDI to RTSP encoder, analytics professionals can seamlessly import this broadcast-quality feed into their analysis software. Once integrated, they can enrich the data stream with sophisticated tagging and metadata that go beyond standard metrics—highlighting specific player actions, tactical formations and situational insights. This combination not only saves time by ensuring critical time-based data is already present, but also empowers teams to layer more advanced analytics on top of a rock-solid baseline, ultimately delivering a more nuanced understanding of player performance and strategic execution.
Iso-recordings are “isolated” recordings of each camera, often used for post production or sports analytics.
A four-camera sports analytics system provides comprehensive coverage of the field, capturing critical gameplay moments from multiple perspectives. Each camera serves a specific purpose, enabling detailed post-game analysis for coaches and players. While not all teams can set up a four camera system for sports analytics, consider partnering with your school broadcast club or the video streaming team to capture more video for your coaching analysis.
Example Sports Video Camera Angles
Camera 1 – 2/3rd View of the Field: This camera provides a broad overview of the majority of the playing field. It captures team formations, transitions and overall game flow. Coaches can analyze player positioning, strategic movements and team dynamics from this wide-angle perspective.
Camera 2 – 1/3 View – Close-Up Action: Focused on a smaller portion of the field, this camera offers a more detailed look at individual offensive and defensive plays. It highlights key one-on-one battles, critical passes and defensive strategies, helping coaches assess individual player performance and tactical decisions.
Example Sports Goalie Cameras
Camera 3 – Goal Camera 1: Positioned behind one of the goals, this camera closely monitors goalie action and any offensive attempts within the goal area. It captures every shot on goal, saves and key defensive maneuvers, making it essential for analyzing goalkeeping performance and offensive execution.
Camera 4 – Goal Camera 2: Similar to Camera 3, this camera covers the opposite goal. It ensures that every offensive and defensive moment near the goal is documented, providing a complete view of scoring opportunities and defensive stops.
Most sports have moments where additional viewpoints are important and the 1/3rds cameras can be used to capture these when necessary. By combining footage from all four cameras, coaches can review game highlights, break down critical plays and create focused training sessions. This multi-angle approach supports detailed player feedback, tactical adjustments and improved game strategy development.
This diagram shows five PTZ presets set up for the faceoff locations in hockey.
PTZ cameras can quickly recall specific areas of a space with PTZ presets. Once your cameras are set up and in place, you can move the camera to these positions and save the location in a “PTZ Preset”. This way camera operators can quickly move the camera to a specific area with the click of a button.
This iPad is being used to annotate on top of an instant-replay.
Video analysis allows teams to:
Video footage captures every movement players make. Coaches can analyze:
Combining video with biometric data helps:
Specific players and jersey numbers can be added to your sports analytics software, customizing the input area for quick play tagging.
Video as a Data Source
Video is no longer just for spectators—it’s a valuable data stream for analytics teams. By capturing multiple angles and camera feeds, broadcast video offers a comprehensive view of every event during a game. Integrating this footage into a sports analytics system can be done in several ways:
Video Tagging for Sports Analytics: Real-Time vs. Post-Game Analysis
In the world of sports analytics, video tagging plays a crucial role in providing coaches with actionable insights. Whether it’s for tactical adjustments during halftime or for a comprehensive review after the game, understanding the options for tagging video footage can help teams maximize their competitive edge.
Real-time tagging involves marking key events such as goals, assists, fouls or turnovers as they occur during the game. This process requires a dedicated staff member or analyst using specialized software to tag moments in real-time. The tagged data is immediately available for analysis, allowing coaches to review critical plays during timeouts or at halftime.
Post-game tagging involves analyzing the recorded video after the game has ended. This option is ideal for smaller teams with limited staff or those focused on in-depth, data-driven reviews rather than immediate feedback.
Post-game tagging involves analyzing the recorded video after the game has ended. This option is ideal for smaller teams with limited staff or those focused on in-depth, data-driven reviews rather than immediate feedback.
vMix is a professional video production software running on a Windows laptop. being used to simultaneously record four video signals for sports analytics.
The ISO-Corder Advantage:
Many video production teams typically record a single “Program” video output, which switches between multiple cameras for the live stream or viewer experience. However, this approach doesn’t align well with the needs of sports coaches and analysts.
Coaches require continuous, uninterrupted footage from each camera angle for effective analysis. An ISO-corder system (known as a “multicorder” in Vmix) solves this problem by recording each camera independently and simultaneously. This ensures that no critical play or movement is missed due to camera switching and no overlays or graphics are shown on top of video meant for analytics.
This “Quad Split” was used to record four camera views during a varsity hockey match.
Quad-split video recording is convenient because coaches can look at one video recording and look at four unique camera angles. You can also record a “quad split” of the four cameras (in vMix and other software). And if you record at 4K, each part of the quad split will have a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. This means that you can blow up each quadrant when viewing and still see high quality images.
Alternatives to software solutions are hardware solutions like the AJA Ki Pro GO2 that can also record four (1080p/60) cameras at a time.
If you go the hardware route, be careful that you select hardware that is capable of recording at the resolution and frame rate you want.
By recording multiple cameras, teams can upload the separate video files into sports analytics software for tagging, analysis and annotation. Each camera’s unique perspective offers valuable insights—whether it’s a wide-field view, a close-up of player interactions or goal-specific action.
Switching between angles during live production can be distracting and even frustrating when reviewing footage for teaching purposes. With a multi-corder setup, coaches can focus on the exact plays and angles they need, streamlining the review process and enhancing player development through precise, angle-specific video analysis.
Many sports analytics platforms, such as Hudl Sideline, SkyCoach and Vuestation offer wireless video review systems designed for sideline use. These systems allow coaches to access tagged plays in real-time using tablets or laptops. With features like instant replay, coaches can quickly navigate through recorded footage, helping players adjust during breaks.
The decision between real-time and post-game tagging depends on the team’s resources, staff availability and competitive goals. Larger teams with dedicated analytics staff may benefit from live tagging and sideline video review systems. In contrast, smaller teams can achieve great results by focusing on detailed post-game analysis.
By understanding these options, coaches can better integrate sports analytics into their workflow, ensuring that every game is an opportunity for growth and success.
Several sports teams and organizations are already using video for analytics. For example, in basketball, coaches use video analysis to examine defensive setups and offensive plays in minute detail, leading to more refined game strategies. In football, video analysis helps track player positioning and movement, offering insights into how players can maximize their effectiveness on the pitch.
Even in individual sports like tennis or golf, video combined with analytics can help athletes improve their technique. Tennis players, for instance, can use slow-motion replays to analyze their serve, looking for areas to improve speed or spin.
| Category | Primary Purpose | Who Uses It | Key Features |
| Game Play Analysis | Improve coaching & strategy | Coaches, Team Analysts, Performance Staff | Play breakdowns, tactics review, motion tracking |
| Stats Creation & Intelligence | Generate real-time insights | Broadcasters, Journalists, Sports Analysts, Scouts | Live stats, player insights, event tagging |
| Presentation & Analysis | Post-game reports & reviews | Coaches, Front Office, Marketing, Sponsors | Interactive charts, data visuals, summaries |
Overview: Hudl offers an all-in-one platform for video analysis and performance tracking, widely used by sports teams at all levels, from amateur to professional. Hudl’s software allows coaches to upload, review and analyze video footage of games and practices. Their tools focus on player development through video breakdown and custom tags for key plays.
Key Features:
Overview: Catapult is one of the leading sports analytics platforms, specializing in wearable technology and video analysis for performance tracking. Their solutions help teams monitor player movement, workload and physical output through GPS trackers, accelerometers and heart rate monitors, giving coaches real-time insights into player conditioning and injury prevention.
Key Features:
Overview:
Dartfish is leading video analysis software designed for coaches, athletes and sports analysts across various disciplines. It enables users to capture, analyze and share performance footage, making it a powerful tool for improving technique, enhancing strategy and optimizing team performance. Dartfish is trusted globally by sports organizations, educational institutions and professional teams.
Key Features:
Overview: Nacsport is a comprehensive sports video analysis software designed to assist coaches, analysts and athletes in enhancing performance through detailed video breakdowns. Suitable for various sports, including football, basketball, rugby and hockey, Nacsport offers a range of tools to capture, analyze and present game footage effectively. Its user-friendly interface and customizable features make it accessible for teams at all levels, from amateur to professional.
Key Features:
Nacsport’s scalable solutions cater to a diverse range of users, from grassroots teams to elite sports organizations, providing the necessary tools to elevate performance analysis and strategic planning.
Overview: Opta Sports provides detailed sports data for professional teams and broadcasters. Known for their in-depth statistics across various sports, including soccer, rugby and cricket, Opta focuses on providing live data feeds and historical analysis for better decision-making during and after games.
Key Features:
Overview: KlipDraw is a video analysis tool designed for sports analysts and coaches who need to break down footage to illustrate tactics, formations and key player movements. KlipDraw allows users to annotate videos with graphics, arrows and drawings, making it easy to highlight key points during review sessions.
Key Features:
Overview:
Metrica Sports offers advanced video and data analysis solutions tailored for coaches, analysts and teams across various sports. Their platform, Play, integrates cutting-edge technology to streamline the analysis process, enabling users to gain in-depth performance insights and enhance strategic planning. Designed with input from industry professionals, Metrica Sports’ tools are accessible to teams at all levels, from grassroots to elite organizations.
Key Features:
Metrica Sports’ solutions are utilized by over 800 teams worldwide, reflecting their commitment to making professional-level analysis accessible across all levels of sport.
The modern coaching landscape has evolved dramatically and the power of sports analytics puts a world of insights at your fingertips. Instead of relying solely on intuition or post-game debriefs, you now have the capacity to make adjustments on the fly and communicate more effectively with players who crave instant, evidence-based feedback. As you refine your approach, this blend of real-time analysis and comprehensive video review not only elevates in-game performance, it also strengthens the overall culture surrounding your team. With every strategic pivot and carefully edited highlight reel, you’re not just sharpening your tactics—you’re enhancing the experience for everyone involved.
Yet, before you dive deeper into the realm of sports video production—where capturing, editing and sharing compelling footage can bring your story to life—there’s an essential stepping stone: ensuring that the basics of team information are well-managed and widely accessible. The next chapter, From Field to Fanbase: Preparing Your Team for Sports Video Success, will explore how to build a strong informational framework. By clearly communicating schedules, rosters, streaming options and more, you’ll lay the groundwork for broadening your audience, engaging loyal fans and even attracting sponsors. In short, managing the fundamentals sets the stage for your video content to truly resonate when it’s time to press “record.”
Join the StreamGeeks Community and Start Streaming Like a Pro By downloading Sports Video: Recording, Analysis, and Live Streaming, you’ll gain access to:Sports of all kinds require different approaches to camera placement, video switching and the overall…
Live streaming has become an essential component of modern sports production, allowing fans worldwide to…
Sports Video Essentials - Level 2 - Sports Analytics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48VfDSImwjY As sports production technology advances,…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn_pG8_uqcI Portable Sports Video Systems Recording sports video in the field requires a portable, easy-to-use…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTqa0OYNusY When it comes to sports video, your equipment has to be ready for action…
As the sports world becomes increasingly digital, athletes now have unprecedented opportunities to shape their…